Planning at Work for Unexpected MS Symptoms

It makes sense to prepare a backup plan for getting things done, no matter what your job is. Life is unpredictable and events that dramatically change the landscape can occur when you least expect them to. Just ask anyone who leads a military campaign, is responsible for bringing a new product to market, or lives with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Two ways to prepare

The reality is that being prepared and able to adapt to change is a critical life skill that everyone, healthy or not, should cultivate. Think of it this way. You give yourself a big advantage in the workplace when you can adjust to changing symptoms without letting them hurt your job performance.

You may be worried that this kind of planning takes too much of your limited time or requires too much effort. Or maybe you think it will be too difficult? In fact, it’s much easier than you think. Here are two simple concepts that can provide the fundamentals you need to stay flexible so you can adjust to changing health:

Prepare a set of alternative methods for getting your work done. Remember, no task is too small to be taken into consideration. Approach this as you would any project. Set your target goals and map out the steps that will help you achieve them.

Get comfortable with choosing alternatives. This is a critical but often overlooked element of this strategy. Avoid sabotaging your own efforts by ignoring or resisting your backup plans. Instead, focus on fostering your real acceptance of the idea that events are not always predictable, and cultivate your flexibility to take different routes when necessary.